Hopes high for bump in Rockford students' college-prep scores

ROCKFORD — The Rockford School District could see its first increase in years in overall average ACT scores, and officials are crediting longer school days and more Advanced Placement-level class offerings.

ROCKFORD — The Rockford School District could see its first increase in years in overall average ACT scores, and officials are crediting longer school days and more Advanced Placement-level class offerings.

After a recent study the district conducted, Dan Woestman, executive director of accountability for the schools, had this to say about the results:

Why did the district choose this area to study?

For the past couple of years, our average ACT score has been flat. It’s been about 18.3 for 2011 and 2012. The state average for those years has been around 20.9. The highest score is 36.

Research tells us that students who can score at least a 20 on the ACT do not need to take remedial classes in college.

What were the findings of your ACT-AP analysis?

Students who take more AP classes perform better on the ACT. We are able to see this through student growth, as well, not just high-performing students taking AP classes and doing well.

There is a bigger jump between where students were in the eighth grade compared to where they ended up as juniors. Basically, whatever level you come into high school, you take one AP class and your ACT score will be higher than if you didn’t take any. Same for if you take two AP classes, and so on.

What did the district do with this information?

It added the seven-period day and instituted mandatory tutoring in middle and high school. We recognized the value of getting freshmen and sophomores into more challenging coursework before they take the ACT their junior years.

We offered more AP classes, and we encouraged students to sign up for more AP classes. We saw 115 more students in AP statistics, 113 more in AP psychology, 64 more in AP environmental science, and 30 more in AP studio art.

What kind of results have you seen?

Our preliminary results, including all of our students, look like we’ll be increasing our overall average district ACT score by at least a half-point and maybe as much as a full point. Those results will be available in August.

What’s been the message to students and parents?

It’s OK for kids to do hard things. When appropriate, you can push them to do hard things, and it will pay off for them.

Too often, students probably have been choosing the easy road rather than the road with the most reward. We want to help parents understand that they play a role in this encouragement.